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Feb. 16, 1932. o. F. HILBERT WARP PRINTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11,1929

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Filed. May 11, 1929 5 She ets-Sheet 2 ...U. ,E/ T2 5/ H W WW M 11.4 Q A I m INVYENTOR: 0220 F HZ ZZCJT,

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES Feb. 16, 1932.

9. F. HILBERT WARP PRINTING APPARATUS File d May 11, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s WITNESSES Feb. 16, 1932. o. F. HILBERT 1,845,414

WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1929 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NH 1 w E m Q 1 1K Wv m 3 INVENTOR:

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Feb. 16, 1932. o F. HILBERT 1,845,414

WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 113 FIGJZ;

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- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UII'ED OTTO F. HILIBERT, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AR'ILOOMI CORPORATION, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Application filed May 11, 1929. Serial No. 362,337.

be transferred to looms for incorporationinto figured carpets or slmllar fabrics. Such preparation involves not only printing, but

subjecting of the warps to steam treatment to effect penetration and setting of the colors after printing, subsequent washing to remove all excess coloring matter, and final drying before the yarns are wound upon beams;

The main objects of my invention are to enable accomplishment of these several steps in a rapid and continuous manner without imposition of I strains likely to result in stretching of the warps and disaligning of the spot imprints; and to provide an efficient and reliable apparatus suitable and convenient to the attainment of the indicated ends.

Still other objects will be manifest from the detailed description following of the typical embodiment of this invention illustrated by the attached drawings.

Fig. I is a side elevation of my improved warp printing apparatus, a part thereof being broken out at the center and other parts shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. II is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the printing unit forming a part of the apparatus.

Fig. III is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the printing unit showing important structural details.

Fig. IV is a detail sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows IV-IV'in Fig. III, and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. V is a longitudinal sectional view of the right hand end of the apparatus, and considerably enlarged with respect to the showing in Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a cross section, taken as indicated by the arrows VI VI in Figs. I and V.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary plan, on a larger scale viewed as indicated by the arrows VIIVII in Fig. V.

Fig. VIII is a cross sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows VIIIVIII in Fig. VII; and,

' Fig. IX is a fragmentary elevation, viewed as indicated by the arrows IX-IX in Fig. VII with portions broken away to expose important details. i

In the apparatus of myinvention, the warps W (Fig. I) are supplied from individual spools on a creel (not shown), and spot printed in different colors at intervals along their lengths in accordance with a predetermined pattern scheme, under jacquard control, incident to passage horizontally through the printing unit comprehensively V designated by the numeral 10. After leaving this printing unit 10, the warps W are passed,

likewise horizontally, through an extensive chambered conditioning unit 11, in which an atmosphere of steam is constantly maintained at a uniform temperature to promote penetration and setting of the colors. Arranged in turn in serial sequence with the treating chamber 11 is a washing unit 12, through which the warps l/V are next passed and all excess color incidentally removed. After traversing the washing unit 12 the movement of the warps W is reversed so as to over travel a heating element in the form of a steam coil 13 disposed longitudinally above the treating chamber 11, en route to a'winding mechanism 14 whereby the warps W are divided into two groups and collected on beams 15, capable of being removed and transferred to looms for incorporation of said warps into figured carpets or other fabrics.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. II, III and IV it will be observed that the printing unit comprises a frame 16 built from structural iron. At the bottom of the frame 16 affords a transverse archway or tunnel 17 for a wheeled truck 18 supporting a seriesof troughs 19 for as many different colors. Within each of the color troughs 19 is freely journaled a feed roller 20. These rollers 20 are overtra-velled by the warps W as shown in Figs. II and III, but the latter are normally prevented from contacting with said rollers by transversely disposed scraper plates 21 between each pair of the troughs 19, see Fig. III. Printing of the warps W is effected by impression members having the form of type bars 22 which are arranged side by side in groups aligned with the several color rollers 20, and guided for vertical reciprocation between transverse beams 16a of the structural frame 16. As shown in Fig. III, the lower ends of the type bars 22 are concaved into conformity with the color rollers 20, and, as they descend, cause the spans of the warps WV between the scrapers 21, at the edges of the color troughs 19 to be depressed into contact with said rollers so that color is applied to an extent corresponding to the width of said type bars. As a convenient means for maintaining the type bars 22 separated laterally, I employ spacer rods 23 which extend through apertured angle bars 24 fixed to the tops and bottoms of the frame beams 16a already referred to. Motion is imparted to the type bars 22 by virtue of connection to compound levers 26, said levers having pivotal connection at their centers on brackets 27 attached to the tops of thebeams 16a. The opposite ends of the levers 26 are connected to sliding actuator bars 28 which are disposed edge to edge with the type bars 22 in the intervals between the beams, 16a, and likewise held in separation by the spacer rods The actuator bars 28 are connected, it-h interposition of springs 29, to individual pull cords 30 having guidance in apertured rails 31 crosswise of the frame 16, said cords depending from an overhead jacquard mechanism 32 surmounting the frame 16. This jacquard mechanism 32 may be of well known construction and is therefore only conventionally indicated in the drawings. Thus each time that a cord 30 is pulled by the jacquard mechanism 32, the coordinated type bars 28 is caused to descend upon the warp WV directly beneath it, thereby flexing the latter into contact with the corresponding color roller 20 as already explained, the contact being a yielding one under the action of the spring 29. Such printing occurs during dwell periods in the travel of the warps W, which are directed over a guide roller 35 (Fig. II) to a triad of feed rolls 36. These rolls 36 are intermittently driven through a Geneva motion whereof the star wheel 37 is engaged by an actuating member 38 fixed to a constantly revolving shaft 39 with journal bearing on the frame 16. Concurrently with intermittent progression of the warps W, the rollers 20 in the color troughs 19 are moved through a part revolution to present a new surface each time to the type bars 22. As shown, the rollers 20 are continuously coordinated through intermeshing spur pinions 40, and driven through the medium of an idler pinion 41, by a gear 42 on a shaft 43, at the side of the frame 16 remote from the observer in Fig. II. This shaft 43 is in turn driven by sprocket chain 44 from a shaft 45 which carries the star wheel 46, of another Genevamovement, whereof the actuating member 47 is fixed to a shaft 48 intergeared as at 49 with the constantly revolving shaft 39 previously mensprocket chain 53 that runs over a number of guide wheels 5364, to a sprocket wheel 54 on the shaft 48. The main transmission shaft 52 also carries a crank 55 by which motion is imparted to an arm 56 with pivotal connection at 57 on the frame 16, said arm being coupled by a link rod 58 with a crank arm 59 on a rock shaft 60 associated with the jacquard mechanism 32. The main transmission shaft 52- is moreover equipped with a clutch 61 capable of actuation by a lever 62, as well as with a hand wheel 63 whereby it may be turned manually when required. To enable lifting of the warps W clear of the color troughs 19 when the wheeled truck 18 is to be removed, I provide a cross bar 64 which extends transversely'beneath the warps V7, said bar being suspended at the ends by chains or cords 65 from a windlass 66, having journal support in the frame 16, and fitted with a hand crank 67.

By reference now to Figs. I, V and VI, it

ill be observed that the conditioning unit 11 embodies a long shallow b x or chamber 68, which, in practice, may be constructed from timber, the same being supported at a slight elevation by short legs 69. Steam is constantly discharged within the conditioning chamber 68 by transversely extending jet pipes 7 O with supply connections 7 0a the exterior, see Figs. I and VI, and exhausted through. outlets 71 at opposite ends of said chamber, see Fig. I. In traversing the conditioning chamber 68 the warps IV are sustained against sagging and, at the same time, maintained in definite separation by a conveyor 72 with notched -gle bars 73, extending crosswise at intervals between spaced outer and inner sprocket chains 74 and 75, which are respectively fitted with rollers 76, 77. The rollers 76 of the outer chains 7 4 run on angle rails 78 extending longitudinally of the conditioning chamber 68, while the rollers 77 of the intermediate chain run on a flat guide rail '79 extending through said chamber at the middle. As shown in Figs. I, V and VI, only the upper run of the conveyor 72 traverses the conditioning chamber 68, the sprocket wheels 80, 81 for the chains 74, 75 bein mounted on shafts 82, 83 (Fig. I) having journal support at opposite ends of the conditioning chamber 68 and being so disposed as to determine travel of the lower 1 Oilconveyor run exterior-1y beneath said chamber. The conveyor 7 2 is intermittently progressed synchronously with the warps W by means including a chain 8 1 that extends be tween a-shaft 85 at the left hand end (F-igs. I and II) of the frame 16 of the printing uni 10 and the sprocket shaft 81, the shaft 85 being driven by virtue of a gear connection 87 with the shaft of the Geneva star wheel 37, by which the feed rolls 36 for the warps W are actuated and the chain 841 is guided in horizontal channels 88 along the side of the conditioning unit (see Figs. 1 and V1) The warps W are thus efiectively sustained andjassisted in their pro ress through the conditioning chamber 68.

Upon issuing from the conditioning unit 11, the warps W are passed to the washing unit 12, which, as illustrated to best'advantage in Fig. V, embodies anumber of pans or trays 90, 91 and 92 for water or other washing fluid, said trays being disposed at successively higher levels (as regards the direction of warp travel) within the confines ofa spill trough 93. The washing fluid is supplied by a pipe 9 1 that delivers into the uppermost tra 92 of the 'rouo' and the conti uous y b 7 Q ends of the trays 90 92 are connected by bridging pieces 95 so that the fluid is cascaded from one tray to another, in a direction counter to the travel of the warps VV- through the washing unit '12. In traversing the washing unit 12, the warps W ride over'the bridging pieces 95'above the levelof the fluid in the trays 9092, but are intermittently dipped into said fluid by meansof oscillating paddles 96 mounted onshafts 97' that extend crosswise of said trays. Arms 98 on the shafts 97 are coupled with eccentrics 99 on a common actuating-shaft 100 which is driven through gearing 101 from an electric motor 102. l

' As they leave the lastor uppermost 92 of the washing trays 90, 92, the warps WV are 3 guided through a reed 103,. then over a pair of redirecting rollers 101, one only being shown in Figs. I and V owing to the sectional character ofsaid views, which are :dis-' posed at a slight angle to each other crosswise of the washing unit 12 to facilitate convergence of the warps W with avoidance of unequal tension on them, toward a reed 105 with closer spaced dents mounted at the right hand end of a horizontal frame 106 which is suspended by rods 107 from overhead. This frame. 106 is made up in the present-instance of structural iron includings'ide longitudinals 108 and spaced transverse or cross members 109, see Figs. V and V I. The drying coil 13 previously referred to hereinyrests upon the cross members 109 of the-frame 106; while supporting bars 110 (Fig. V) centrally over the cross members 109 serve to prevent direct contact of the warps with said coil.

As a gage to insure proper registry of the.

spot colorings, the warps W are-marked in'the 1 intervals between the lengths set part to serve forconsecutive rugs, by a transverse line of imprints, as shown at S in Fig. VII. Should these imprints S be disaligned as the warps W emerge from the washing unit 12, an op portunity is afforded to correct the condition as said warps move over the drying coil 13 by individual manipulation of them. As an aid to this operation, I equip the apparatus with a wheeled carriage 111 affording a bench112 for the operative and capable of travel on the side longitudinals 108 offthe frame 106 under propulsion of the warps W as will be explained presently. The carriage 111 is moreover fitted with a triad of rollers 113, 114 and 115, which are normally free to rotate and about whichthe warps N normally pass, after the manner shown in Fig. V, with said carriage stationary; as well as with brake, means to hold the rollers 1131 15 against rotation when progression of the carriage 111' is to be effected. As shown in Figs. VHJX, this brake means comprises band band is maintained in either of the described conditions throughcooperation of a stop lug I 23 on the'dislr 1 0 with the side of the post 121 in an obvious manner. 'lhus in practice, the operative moves the carria e 111 along the frame106 until the imprints S on the ,warps VJ lay approximatelyover the center of the medial roller 114 and'thereupon applies the bralre mechanism. Then, while seated on the bench 112 with the carriagelll travelling, the operative pulls on those warps W requiring stretching until the imprints S are perfectly aligned transversely on the crest ofthe roller 11%. Such stretching, it will be be apparent, is quite easy of accomplish ment and unattended by injurious results in view of the lengthy span of the warps W between the re-directing rollers10% and the beaming mechanism 1%. 1

As they approach the leading guide roller 125 of the beaming'mechanism 1 1 (Fig. I), the warps N pass-through a reed 126 which is'freely suspended by chains 12? from the top of the frame 128 of said mechanism and are prevented from adhering as a consequence of separation of alternate strands by a spreaderbar 129. This bar 129is secured.

. to the ends of links 130 with pivotal connection to cranks on a constantly revolving 116 arrangedto underla the outer rollers" and II.

shaft 131, said bar being thus reciprocated in the interval between the warps IV for the.

purpose above indicated. The main shaft 182, of the beaming mechanism is driven through a system of sprocket chains 133, 134 1 r 0 and 135, from the iZZRIlSIIllSSlOILSHZLt 5o 0 the printing unit 10. The winding beams 15 are intergeared as at 136; while a pinion 137 in mesh with one of said gears is coordinated by a belt connection 138 with the main driving shaft 132, said belt being accorded capacity for slipping to accommodate the intermittent progression of the warps IV in other parts of the apparatus. Also as shown, the

actuating shaft 131 for the spreader bar 129 incident to placement and removal, there is provided a chain tackle 142 which is suspended from a small crane carriage 1&3 running on an overhead track 144; This track 144 extends crosswise of the apparatus through a gangway between the printing unit 10 and the frame of the Winding mechanism 14, upper beams 16b of the latter being extended in the form of cantilevers for supporting said track, all as shown in Figs. I

The construction and arrangement ofthe different units constituting my improved printing apparatus is especially unique in that it favors progression or" the warps N without subjection to harmful strains; and in that it affords provisions whereby extensive spans of said warps are accessible for manipulation in bringing about accurate registry of color imprints should they become somewhat disaligiied due to slight shortenin or lengthening of such warps during the printing, conditioning and washing operations;

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In warpprinting apparatus, a printing unit, a conditioning unit, and a washing unit arranged in serial sequence for direct horizontal travel of the warps through them successively; and a longitudinal heating element above the conditioning unit adapted to be over-travelled in the reverse direction by the warps with the latter in full view for convenience of inspection after leaving the washing unit.

2. In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit, a conditioning unit, and a washing unit arranged in serial sequence for direct horizontal travel of the warps through them successively; a longitudinal heating element above the conditioning unit adapted to be over-travelled in the reverse direction by the warps with the latter in full view for convenience of inspection after leaving the washing unit; and winding mechanism above the conditioning unit adjacent the printing unit to receive the yarns after drying.

3. In warp'printing apparatus, a printing unit; and a conditioning unit arranged in serial sequence for direct horizontal travel of the warps through them successively, said conditioning unit comprising a shallow chamber with transverse steam jet pipes, and a moving conveyor to support the warps in definite separation incident to passage through said chamber.

In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit; and a conditioning unit arranged in serial sequence for direct horizontal travel of the warps through them successively, said conditioning unit comprising a chamber, and a moving conveyor with notched cross members to support the warps in definite separation incident to passage through said cham+ ber.

5 In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit; and a. conditioning unit arranged in serial sequence for direct horizontal travel of the warps through them successively, said conditioning unit comprising a shallow chamber, and a conveyor with notched crossbars vto support the warps in definite separation incident to passage through said chamber; means for feeding the yarns into the printing unit; and co-ordinated means for driving the feed means and the conveyor aforesaid in synchronism.

. In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit; feed means instrumental in determining intermittent progression of the warps through the printing unit for application of spot imprints during dwell periods a conditioning unit comprising a chamber, and a conveyor with notched angle elements to support the warps in definite separation incident to travel through said chamber after leaving the printing unit; and co-ordinated drive means to intermittently actuate the feed means and the conveyor aforesaid in synchronism.

7. In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit feed means instrumental in determining intermittent progression of the warp through the printing unit for application of spot imprints during dwell periods; a conditioning uniticomprising a. chamber, and a conveyor with notched means to support the warps indefinite separation incidentto travel through said chamber after leaving the printing unit; winding mechanism including a revolving beam to receive the printed warps after conditioning; and co-ordinatedmeans for inter ittently actuating the feed means and the conveyor aforesaidin synchronisin, and for driving the windingbeam with vals between spaced progressing means to maintain the warps in definite separation,

after printing; and a jacquard mechanism w1th pull cords operative through motion translating levers to depress the impression members and thereby bring individual warps into contact with the various color elements.

9. ln warp printing apparatus, a printing unit embodying a multiplicity of impression members arranged in groups above as many different intergeared color rollers, feed means instrumental in determining intermittent progression of the warps horizontally through an interval between the impression members and the color rollers, and jacquard mechanism controlling actuation of the impression members to bring individual warps into contact with the various color rollers; a conditioning unit comprising a chamber and. a conveyor including means for supporting the yarns in definite separation incident to travel through the chamber after leaving the printing unit; and co-ordinated means for intermittently actuating the feed means of the printing unit. and the conveyor of the conditioning unit, and for progressively rotating the color rollers of said printing unit to presentnew surfaces to the impression members at each operation. v

10. In warp printing apparatus, a printing unit traversed by the warps for applica tion to them of color imprints; a washing unitincluding successively elevated receptacles of suitable liquid through which the warps are subsequently passed, and means progressing the warps in one direction counter to a definitely maintained flow of the washing liquid.

11. In warp ing unit adapted printing apparatus, a printto be traversed by the warps for application to them of color imprints;

and a washing unit through which the warps are subsequently passed comprising a series of trays arranged at successively higher levels for gravity flow of washingliquid from one to another in a direction counter to the travel of the warps.

12. In warp printing apparatus a printing unit adapted to be traversed by the warps for application to them of color imprints; and a washing unit comprising a series of trays over-travelled by the warps subsequent to printing, said trays being arranged at successively higher levels for gravity flow of side by side' from one to another in a diwashing liquid tothe travelof the warps,

rection counter and ineans'ffor intermittently steeping the warps into'theliquid contained in the trays. 13. In'warp printing apparatus, a printingunit forapplylngspot imprints at intervals lengthwise of a series of concurrently progressed warps; means for maintaining the warps 1n definite separation after prmting means'tor directing the warps over an extensive course in full v1ew after prmtmg, and meansenabllng temporary arrest of the warps for convenience of access to enable individual manipulation for the purpose of bringing corresponding spot imprints on said warps into accurate registry transversely of the ser es. i 14. in warp prmting apparatus compr1sing a printing unit for applying spot imprints at intervals lengthwise of a series of concurrently progressed warps, and means for directing the warps over an extensive course n full view after prmting; a carriage for transferrmg an operative over said course s and means whereby said carriage may be progressed under propulsion of the warps to enable individual manipulationot said warps for the purpose of bringing corresponding spot imprints on them into accurate registry transversely of the series.

15. In warp printing apparatus comprising a printing unit printsat intervals lengthwise of a series of concurrently progressed warps, and means for directing the warps over an extensive course in full view afterprinting; a carriage for an operative adapted to travel over the course under propulsion by the warps, and means whereby progression of said carriage may be arrested to enable individual manipulation of the warps for the purpose of bringing corresponding spot imprints on them infor applying spot im-.

to accurate registry transversely of the series.

16. In Warp prmting apparatus comprising a printing unit for applying spot imprints at intervals lengthwise of a series of concurrently progressed 4 warps, for directing the warps over an extensive course in full view after printing; a carriage for transporting an operative over such course, said carriage being fitted with a group of freely journalledrollers adapted to be alternately under and over-travelled by the warps, and with brake means whereby the rollers may be secured against rotation for propulsion of the carriage by the warps and thereby to enable manipulation of the warps to accurately align corresponding spot prints on them transversely of the series along the crest of one of the rollers.

. and means 17. In warp printing apparatus compris- 7 them successively,

and a longitudinal heating element above the conditioning unit adapted to be over-travelled in the reverse direction by the warps Withthe latter in full view; winding mechanism above the conditioning unit adjacent the printing unit to receive the yarns after drying; and a carriage for transferring an operative over and along the heating element to enable stretching of the lengthy span of the warps in the interval between the point of reversal in the direction of travel and the winding mechanism for the purpose of bringing corresponding spot imprints on them into accurate registry.

In testimony whereof, 'I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 6th day of May, 1929.

c OTTO F. I-IILBERT. 

